Vacuum-cleaner for rugs.



A- D. SEAMAN.

VACUUM CLEANER FOR RUGS. I APPLICATION FILED sEPf.2s,1912.

Patented Aug. 3, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

A. D. SEAMAN.

VACUUM CLEANER FOR RUGS.

, APPLICATION FILED SEPT.26.1912.

7 1,149,169., PatentedAug.3,1915.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

ALONZO'D. SEAMAN, 0F MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN VACUUM-CLEANER FOR RUGS.

Application filed fieptember 26, 1912.

T 0 all 107mm it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALoNzo D. SEAMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented new and useful Improvements in Vacuum-Cleaners for Rugs, of which the following is a full clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification.

This invention relates to fabric cleaning machines.

It is particularly applicable to machines for cleaning rugs and heavy fabrics.

Machines for cleaning heavy fabrics generally employ a beater or brush for loosening and dislodging the dust and dirt. An exhaust apparatus is sometimes associated with the machine to remove the dirt after it has been disengaged from the fabric. The process of cleaning a. fabric by beating and brushing requires the expenditure of a relatively large amount of energy over a considerable period of time. The fabric is in a cloud of dust during the operation. Some of the dust is removed by the exhaust; some of it settles back on the fabric; and the re mainder is scattered about the machine and throughout the atmosphere. The problem has been to devise a machine which will thoroughly clean a fabric in the shortest possible period of time with the expenditure of a minimum amount of energy and without scattering the dust and dirt throughout the atmosphere of the room. To this end the present invention has been devised.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved machine for thoroughly and quickly cleaning a fabric.

Another object is to provide a simplified machine in which the dust and dirt is positively removed from a fabric with the expenditure of a minimum amount of time and energy.

Another object is to provide an improved machine in which a fabric may be thoroughly cleaned without scattering the dust and dirt throughout the atmosphere about the machine.

()ther objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear.

In its preferred form the machine is provided with a suction bed over which the fabric is passed. The fabric 18 held spaced from this bed adjacent the nozzle or port of Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 3, 1915..

Serial No. 722,507.

withdraw dust and dirt from the fabric and also to remove all the material loosened by the beater. The rug is thereby thoroughly cleaned with the expenditure of a minimum amount of energy.

One embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in Which-- Figure 1 is a side elevation; Fig. 2 is a vertical section; Fig. 3 is a plan view of a table and suction bed; F ig. 4 illustrates details of the driving mechanism.

The cleaning machine is provided with a frame 1. The frame supports a table 2, a draw-roll 3, a heater 4, a suction bed 5 and a vacuum chamber 6. The frame which supports the various parts of the machine has two legs '7 at each end, connected by bars 8. The draw-roll 3 is supported in suitable bearings 9, carried by brackets 10, projecting forwardly from the ends of the frame. A'rod 11, on the draw-roll, provides suitable means to which the end of the fabric may be attached. The heater roll is journaled in upright supports 12, rising from the top of the frame and is provided with lashes or thongs 13 of leather or other material suitable to deliver a succession of sharp blows to the fabric upon rotation of the roll.

The suction bed communicates with the vacuum chamber 6 through a suitable port herein shown as an elongated slot 14. The upper surface 15 of the bed is suitably channeled or corrugated for a purpose hereinafter described. The channels may be formed in various ways. In the preferred form parallel cleats 16 extend across the bed surface to form channels. These cleats preferably overhang the port lat at 17 to prevent the fabric being drawn too tightly against the port and sealing the same. Pipes or conduits 1S connect the chamber 6 with a suitable exhaust fan or pump, not shown.

Any suitable means may be provided for driving the machine. The means selected for illustration comprises a small electric motor 19 supported on a bed plate 20 pivoted to swing on a supporting bracket 21. The motor shaft 22 carries a pair of friction surfaces and 24: adapted to cooperate respectively with friction disks 25 -be shifted against and 26 carried by a shaft 27. The shaft 27 drives the draw-roll 3 through a reversible worm and gear 29.

The beater roll is driven by a belt 31 passing over a'pulley 30 on the motor shaft and a pulley 32 on the beater roll. An idle pulley adjacent the belt, is adapted to the belt to tension the A reversing lever 34 is connected to the motor bed, and, by shifting the bed about its pivot, either friction surface may be brought into contact with its disk to drive the draw-roll, to wind the rug thereon, or to unwind the same.

The operation of the cleaner is substantially as followsz-One end'of the rug or fabric to be cleaned is attached to the drawroll. Upon starting the mechanism, the draw-roll will slowly draw the rug between the beater and the suction bed. The arrangement of parts is such that a strong 5110- tion is exerted over a considerable portion of the fabric with the expenditure of a minimum amount of energy. The zone of action of the suction device is extended and the beater operates upon the fabric as it is being passed through this extended zone. The beater loosens the dirt and dust, while the suction draws the dirt from the rug and carries it away without permitting its escape into the atmosphere.

The cleats of the suction bed may, of course, assume various forms which will hold the rug spaced from the bed to permit action of the suction on the entire portion of the fabric which is beaten. By reversing the controlling lever the draw-roll may be reversed to unwind the rug therefrom.

'hat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A fabric cleaning machine comprising a frame, a suction bed supported thereby over which the fabric is passed, said bedbeing provided with channels in its upper surface extending substantially parallel to the direction of movement of the fabric, a beater adapted to beat the fabric as it passes over the channeled portion of the bed, said bed having a suction port transversely to the channels and communidating therewith whereby a suction may be produced on the fabric as it passes over the channels and the port to remove the dust and dirt from said fabric.

A fabric cleaning machine comprising therein extending a suction bed over which the fabric is passed having a plurality of spaced ribs on its surface extending substantially parallel to the direction of movement of the fabric whereby a plurality of channels are formed on the surface of the bed, a beater adapted to beat the fabric as it passes over the channeled portion of the bed, said bed being provided with a suction port extending transversely to the channels and communicating therewith whereby a suction may be produced on the fabric as it passes over the channels and the port to positively remove the dust. and dirt therefrom, said ribs extending over said port whereby the fabric is prevented from sealing the port.

3. A fabric cleaning machine provided with av surface over which the fabric is passed having a relatively. narrow suction port therein extending transversely to the direction of movement of the fabric, said surface having a plurality of channels therein communicating with the suction port and means for beating the fabric as it passes over said channeled surface.

4. A fabric cleaning machine provided with a suction bed over which the fabric is passed having a suction port therein extending transversely to the direction of movement of the fabric, said bed being provided with channels in its upper surface extending substantially parallel to the direction of movement of the fabric and communicating with the suction port for extending the zone of action of thesuction through said port and a means for beating the section of fabric passing through said Zone.

A. machine for cleaning fabrics provided with a bed over which the fabric is passed having a-relatively narrow suction port therein extending transversely to the direction of movement of'the fabric, a plurality of ribs on the surface of said bed having spaces therebetween communicating with said port whereby the fabric is prevented from sealing said port, and means for beating the section of fabric passing over the ribbed portion of the bed.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my namein the presence of two witnesses.

' ALONZO D. SEAMAN.

lVitnesses J. L. SEAMAN, R. H. VAN NEsT. 

